Japan central bank keeps interest rates unchanged

[June 15, 2010]  TOKYO (AP) -- Japan's central bank has voted to keep its interest rate unchanged at 0.1 percent as widely expected.

The unanimous decision came after a two-day meeting of the Bank of Japan's eight-member policy board. The Bank has not changed the overnight call rate target since December 2008.

The central bank also announced details of a new funding program to help banks lend more to growth-oriented companies.

[Associated Press]

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